Our Board of Directors
Community School of the Arts is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors committed to advancing our mission of improving access to the arts. Their leadership helps shape the future of CSA and has a direct impact on the students and families we serve.
Anthony Wilson, MD
President
Anthony grew up in Crossville, TN. He played trumpet in the band in high school, and had private piano and voice lessons growing up. These music lessons created a passion for the arts and an understanding of the importance of having music and art lessons available to all young people, and he is thrilled to give back to our community by his service on the CSA board. Anthony is a Family Medicine physician, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and also Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs and Faculty Development at UT Health Science Center College of Medicine Knoxville.
Tasha Mahurin
Secretary
Tasha Mahurin is a digital strategy and operations consultant with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations strengthen their brands, connect with their audiences, and build sustainable growth. Her career spans technology, digital marketing, product strategy, and business development, working with organizations ranging from startups and small businesses to national brands. Tasha joined the Community School of the Arts board because she believes deeply in the role the arts play in creating confident, connected, and creative communities. She is especially passionate about helping CSA expand its reach, strengthen its support, and ensure that more students have access to meaningful arts experiences. Tasha lives in East Tennessee with her husband and two daughters and enjoys horses, music, and being an active part of her community.
Robyn James
Robyn James (she/her/hers) is an award-winning musician and educator from Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is the founder of Robyn James Ensembles, a string and keyboard group that provides music for weddings and events. During her time in Tennessee, Robyn has performed with the Knoxville Sinfonietta, Knoxville Symphony, Oak Ridge Symphony, Oak Ridge Philharmonia, and Symphony of the Mountains. She is an adjunct professor at Pellissippi State Community College and serves as a Senator in the school's Faculty Senate, co-facilitator of the Adjunct Faculty Support Group, and Chapter Vice President of United Campus Workers (higher education union).
Ann Reego
After 40 years as a middle school choral director, I am glad to serve on the CAS board. Currently, I sing in the Parish Adult Choir at CSUMC and volunteering in other ways at the church. I enjoy traveling and seeing my 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Rev. Mark Curtis
Rev. Mark R. Curtis serves as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Knoxville, where he has served since 2021. A Presbyterian minister for more than 20 years, Mark is passionate about building a strong and vibrant community and creating opportunities for people to discover and develop their gifts. He is grateful to serve on the board of the Community School of the Arts and to support its mission of providing high-quality arts education to young people throughout the Knoxville community. Mark and his wife, Diana, live in Maryville and have two sons, Daniel and Asher.
Sherri Bevis
Vice President
A Blount County native, Sherri Bevis has called Knoxville home for 33 years. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in 1993, she began her banking career at First American National Bank. She then spent 22 years as a payments consultant with BB&T before joining Fifth Third Bank in 2022. She serves as vice chair of the Community School of the Arts and is an active member of Lake Forest Presbyterian Church, Rotary, and the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red. She also volunteers with Alzheimer’s Tennessee and Adopt a Golden Knoxville. In her free time, Sherri enjoys cooking, reading, solving puzzles, and traveling with her husband, John. She is also devoted to her golden retrievers, who accompany her wherever they are allowed—and sometimes where they are not!
Chase Womble
Treasurer
Chase is a banking professional with a background in commercial banking, financial management, and community engagement. He has been actively involved with Community School of the Arts and is passionate about supporting its mission of making music and arts education accessible to students in the community. As a nonprofit board member and finance leader, Chase brings experience in financial stewardship, strategic planning, and relationship building to help support the continued growth and success of the organization.
Peggy Hambright
Knoxville native Peggy Hambright is an entrepreneur, artist, and musician best recognized as the founder of Magpies Bakery. She has been a fixture in the local cultural and culinary scene for decades, working between music, business, and visual art exploration. She and her husband Scott Carpenter began investing in the Old North area in the early aughts and were instrumental in the revitalization of the north Central Street neighborhood where Magpies still operates. After 30 years in business, she retired from the bakery to focus more on walking her dog, Bertie, her art, music, friends and family. She also enjoys teaching beginner piano with Joy of Music School.
Catherine Abbott
Catherine Abbott is a local food entrepreneur who founded and runs Silver Queen Kitchen, a business specializing in snack food and hors d'oeuvres for catering and wholesale. She also runs the Birdhouse Neighborhood Center, a local nonprofit gathering space in a historic house near downtown Knoxville. She received her bachelor's in English from the University of Tennessee and her master's in publishing from George Washington University. Catherine has been a Knoxville arts advocate since college, when she ran a committee to bring artwork to campus. Now, her food business is an art in itself! In her free time, Catherine enjoys reading, outdoor activities, and playing with her dog, Gryff.
Jonathan "Courageous" Clark
Jonathan Clark, known as “Courageous,” is a multidisciplinary artist, published author, and recovering nonprofit director. As a poet, he has performed at countless colleges and universities across the country. Beyond the stage, Jonathan facilitates original creativity-unlocking workshops for a multitude of populations, including aspiring writers of all ages, youth, veterans, entrepreneurs, rural communities, folks in recovery, and so many more. He seamlessly blends his expertise as a writer and performer with his passion for teaching, all while remaining a dedicated dad-joke connoisseur.
Maria B. Clark
Hailing from Heidelberg, Germany, Maria B. Clark joined UTK for studies in the late 70s and has lived in Knoxville since then. Her extensive travels in Latin America inspired a love for its cultures and language and she joined Carson-Newman University as a professor of Spanish and Latin American literature. In her retirement from teaching, she continues to serve as chair of the HoLa Luis Velázquez Scholarship committee. Listening to music has been part of her live since childhood and her admiration for musicians and all artists has never waned. Through her service on the board of CSA she wants to help in fostering the immense creative potential of children.
Laurie Craig
Dallas DeArmond
Don Trentham
Rev. Patricia Clendenen
George Middlebrooks
Sally Morris
Nathan Rowell, Member Emeritus
Diana Samples, Member Emeritus